THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO TIMOTHY
CHAPTER 6
THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL BIBLE STUDY ON THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL BIBLE MEANING WITH THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL BIBLE MESSAGE
Now, Paul is an experienced Apostle by this time and Timothy is a young pastor, so Paul is helping Timothy to avoid unnecessary grief and problems. He started his letter by saying, Don’t listen to people who want to tell you that law is more powerful than God’s Grace. Take a look at me, Paul reminds Timothy, If that were true, I, the chief of sinners would surely not be the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Then, concerning the different people within the church, he told Timothy how to manage and what to require of elders, women, bishops, deacons, widows, etc. Paul includes a number of other points of importance and that’s where we left off. So continuing, Paul now writes some of the things that Timothy should teach the people.
Let as many servants as are under the yoke, count their masters worthy of all honor, so the name of God and His doctrine isn’t blasphemed. You can compare this to today’s society by saying, workers should consider their employers worthy of respect. And those whose employers are believers, don’t judge them, because they are brethren, but instead serve them because they are believers and beloved, sharing the benefit.
So, anyone who despises the boss, just because he’s the boss, is not only doing their boss an injustice, but themselves as well.
Naturally, if an employer is ever abusive in any way, or doesn’t follow what you know is Christian behavior, then this of course doesn’t apply. God certainly doesn’t expect you to honor someone who is in fact dishonorable or evil, whether it’s your boss or anyone else for that matter.
Teach and encourage these things. If any man teaches otherwise, and doesn’t agree with the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine that promotes godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, struggling with questions and words, and that causes envy (jealousy), fighting, reviling, evil thoughts, misleading arguments of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of (without) the TRUTH, assuming that gain is godliness. Don’t associate with such people. But godliness with contentment is great gain.
We brought nothing into this world, and we surely can’t carry anything out (Proverbs 27:24, Job 1:21). So, having food and clothing, let’s be content. But those who want to be rich, they fall into temptation and a trap, and into many foolish and hurtful desires, which drown men in destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evil. Some people who were greedy about money, have turned away from the Faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Have you ever caught yourself in this trap that Paul is talking about? You want something, and you go through painstaking measures to get it, only to look back on it later and find out it was a waste, not only of money, but of the time that you could have been using to serve God. During that time, other evils also had opportunity to sneak in, perhaps presenting yet another thing that you just couldn’t live without, so you put more efforts toward yet another useless thing. Why do people want money? So they can get things. Unnecessary things take you away from God. When you’re away from God, you’re closer to evil. So, you can plainly see the truth in Paul’s words, the love of money is the root of all evil. Sorrowful, yes.
But you, O man of God, shun these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, Faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of Faith, lay hold on (seek) eternal life, where you are also called, and have confessed a good profession in front of many witnesses.
Usually Paul does his honoring of the Lord at the beginning of his epistles, but in this one, he saved it for the end. I feel like the importance of the words of praise that are written in the letters of the New Testament aren’t given as much attention as the other content of the epistles in our generation, and I think they’re so eloquent and lovely, that I have to make them stand out for you. I also think that they help people to learn how to pray and praise God more effectively. Let’s look.
I give you commandment in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in His chosen time, He will reveal who is the blessed and only Potentate (controlling power), the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who has only immortality, living in the light which no man can approach into, who no man has seen, nor can see, to whom be honor and eternal might everlasting. Amen.
Command them that are rich in this life, not to be proud, or trust in uncertain riches, but trust in the living God, who gives us richly, all things to enjoy. Command them to do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share with the needy, storing up instead for themselves, a good foundation, ready for the time to come, so that they may lay hold on (obtain) eternal life.
O Timothy, keep what is put in your care, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called, which some professing have erred (made mistakes) concerning the Faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
